Electrical apparatus



May L 956 B. A. scHwARz ET AL 2,743,626

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS :inventors Gttornegs May 1, 156 B, A, SCHWARZ ET AL 2,743,620

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 50, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :inventors Bu /f (Ittornegs United States Patent OfficeN 2,743,620 Patented May 1, 1956 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Bertram A. Schwarz and Manfred G. Wright, Kokomo, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 3i), 1950, Serial No. 182,186

Claims. (Cl. '74-128) This invention relates to an electrical apparatus and more particularly to a simple device wherein a short burst of energy is stored and given out at a greatly reduced rate over a comparatively long period of time.

It is an object of our invention to provide a simple power applying mechanism including as its main regulator, a ilywheel which stores energy and gives it out at a reduced rate over a period of time.

It is another object of our invention to provide a simple efficient mechanism which etiiciently stores a short burst of energy in an element such as a weight or spring and gives ont the stored energy efciently at a reduced rate over a period of time under the control of an inertia device such as a flywheel.

lt is another object of our invention to provide a simple eilicient arrangement in which a mechanism driven under the regulation of an inertia device such as a iiywheel can be stopped suddenly without suddenly stoppingthe inertia device.

The invention is illustrated in one embodiment incorporating a push mechanism which converts the energy of pushing into the stretching of a spring. The energy stored in the stretched spring operates through a ratchet ing device which drives a flywheel. Frictionally connected to the llywheel is a transmission mechanism and a stop mechanism capable of suddenly stopping the transmission mechanism while the ywheel continues to rotate.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly shown.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is a top view of a mechanism embodying one form of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View in two planes taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line [5-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the elongated fingers of the stopping disc.

The preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings is employed for operating the tuning mechanism of a stop-on-signal type of radio apparatus. its usage, how ever, may extend to iields wherein it is desired to elhciently convert a short burst of energy of a comparatively high value into a longer flow of energy at a somewhat lesser value.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 3, there is shown a bed plate 21 which supports the mechanism. The bed plate 21 is provided with two grooved rollers 23 and 25 which are rotatably mounted upon pins riveted to the bed plate 2l. The rollers 23 and 25 receive in their grooves the slotted portions 27 and 29 of azigzag shaped slide member 31 provided with a push button 33 projecting from the turned-up flange 35 at the forward edge of the bed plate 21. The bed plate 21 also has a turned-up projection 37 provided with a notch at its base which receives one edge of the push button slide member 31. The slide member 31 is provided with an adjustable plate 39 having a projection normally held against the projection 37 by a tension coil spring 41 extending from a turned-up projection at one corner of the plate 39 to a hook formed out of the flange 35 at the front end of the bed plate 2l.

At the center of the bed plate 21, is a bearing 43 which rotatably supports a hub 44 to which is .riveted an arm 45. This arm 45 is pulled in the counterclocltwise direction by a tension coil spring 47 having one end connected to the bent outer end of the arm 45 and the opposite end connected to a, pin fixed to the bed plate. The short opposite end of the arm 45 is provided with a projection 49 which limits the counterclockwise rotation of the arm i5 by its engagement with a projection 51 turned up from the bed plate 2l. The short end of the arm 45 is also provided with a downwardly turned projection 53.

To turn the arm 45 in a clockwise direction against the pull of the spring 47, the push button slide member is provided with a leaf spring SS which projects into contact with the turned down projection :S3 on the arm 45. To make the push button 33 operate easily, the angle made between the bearing 43 and the point of contact between the projection 53 and the end of the leaf spring 55 with the direction of movement of the slide member 3l is made about 120. With this arrangement, as the push button is moved inwardly, the effective length of the lever arm measured along a line perpendicular to the direction of movement ofthe slide member 3l becomes greater. The spring 47 is arranged to make an angle of about 30 with the angle made by connecting a line between the connecting point of the spring 47 and the bearing 43.

With this arrangement, as the arm 45 is turned in the clockwise direction, the pull of the spring 47 will increase but its effect will be reduced because its effective lever arm will be reduced. lt should be understood that the effective lever arm is measured by a perpendicular from the bearing i3 to the center line of the spring 47. These two leverage arrangements, therefore, make the push buttion pressure relatively uniform. As the push button 33 is pushed in, one corner upon the extreme end of the leaf spring S5 engages a slanted tongue S9 which gradually cams downwardly the end of the leaf spring 5S so that when the ann 45' reaches its dot and dash line position shown in Fig. 3, the end of the leaf spring 55 will be cammed beneath the projection 53 to disengage the push button slide member 31 and the leaf spring 55 from the arm 45. A shoulder 6l is provided upon the push button slide member 3l to engage the projection 51`to limit the inward movement of the push button slide member 31.

Above the arm 45, as shown in Fig. 2, there is located a flywheel assembly. This assembly includes a ilywheel 63 having ratchet teeth 65 on its outer edge. Above the flywheel d3 is a stop wheel or disc 67 having a large num ber of very long lingers. These fingers in their transverse cross section are curved to provide smooth action for friction surface as shown in Fig. 5. They are also beveled at their outer ends as shown in Fig. l. The center of the stop disc 67 is riveted to a pinion 69. The pinion 69 and `the stop disc 67 are rotatably mounted upon a pin "Il provided with rotatable washer at its upper end held by riveting. This pin 71 extends through an aperture in the llywheel 63 and is held in place by a small nut 75. The rim ofthe flywheel 63 is provided with a rounded annular projection 73 upon which rest the fingers of the stop disc 67. This nut 75 is `tightened until the fingers of the stop disc 67 are bent about .006 of an inch. Because the metal used for the stop disc 67 has spring properties, the curved surface of the fingers of the stop disc 67 made a light frictional .conoci with .the .rounded annular surface 73 `on `the flywheel 63 to provide a light smooth frictional engagement of the correct frictional -value between the flywheel 6 3 :and the stopping ,disc 167. This engagement of the spring fingersvof the Astop .disc -67 with the surface 73 upon the flywheel provides a slip coupling between the spring and ratchet driving arrangement and the stop disc 67 The pin 71 has 4a lbearing portion beneath ythe -nut 75 which extends into and lis rotatably lmounted in a bearing recess `in the top ofthe bearing pin 43. The end portion of the arm 45 hasa pawl 77 pivotally mounted thereon by a rivet 79. The pawl 77 has a projection 81 adapted to engage the `ri.vet;teeth 6,5 upon the flywheel .63. The pawl 77 is also provided with an ear 83 to which is attached one end of a tension coil spring rEhe other end of this tensioncoil spring .S isanchored to projection 8 7 upon the bed plate 21. This spring 35 controls the angularposition of the pawl '77. Measured from the rivet 79 as a center, the projection 31 is arranged at such an angular distance relative yto the ear 33 and the spring anchoringprojection 37 that when the arm 45 is in the full line position shown in Fig. 3 with the arm projection 49 in engagement :with the Stop projection 51, the pawl lpro- -jection 81 is pulled out of engagement with the rivet teeth 65 on the rim of the flywheel However, when the push button 33 and the push slide member 31 are pushed inwardly until the shoulder @engages the stop projection I51 as shown by the vdot and dash line position of the arm in Fig. 3, because of this angular relationship the pawl 77 will be rotated relative vto the arm 45 toward the iiy- .wheel 63 so that the projection 3,1 will engage the ratchet teeth 65 upon the rim of the `flywheel 63.

When :the push button 33 is released, the pull of the spring 47 will rotate the arm 45 in a counterclockwise Adirection with the projection @l in engagement with the ratchet teeth 6 5 to rotate 4the fiywheel 63, However, before the arm 45 reaches the end of its stroke, that is, before the arm projection 49 engages the stop projection 51, the ,pawl 77 will be turned sufficiently by the pull of the spring that the projectiongl will be removed from engagement of the lratchet teeth 65 to allow the flywheel 63 to rotate freely.

The. pinion 69 drives a gear 91 which is riveted to a second pinion '93 rotatably mounted upon a pin 95 riveted to a triangular plate 97. This triangular plate 97 is supported parallel to the surface yof the bed plate 21 by a sc rew and a spacer at each of its three corners. The pinion 493 drives a gear 99 which is riveted to a hub 1.2i?. This hub is rotatably mounted upon a pin 122 which in turn is riveted to and supported by a projection 124 struck upwardly at an angle from the triangular plate 97. Also riveted to the hub 120 are the tuning cam 126 and the indicating drum 1,28 which may have applied to ,it a scale of various radio frequencies covering the range of radio frequencies of the radio setto which this ,mechanism .Illay be applied. The cam 126is connected lto the tuning means ofthe radio set in such a way that the tuning means traverses the radio vfrequency band in only one direction while seeking a station and -then after a quick return stroke, `the cycle is repeated. For convenience, the pin 1 22 is coaxially arranged relative to the pin 71 and the bearing 43.

To stop the Vtuning mechanism of the radio when a radio signal of sufficient strength is received, there is provided la relay v130. This relay 130 includes an armature 13 2 havin g a stopping pawl 134 extending therefrom in a position to engage the fingers of the stopping disc 67. A small coil spring 136 is provided for normally keeping the pawl 134 in a position to engage the fingers of the stopping disc 67 and to hold the armature 132 away from the core of the relay 1310.

In order that the pawl 134 does not prevent the free rotation of the flywheel 63 when .the liywheel is rotated under the force of the spring 47, the push button slide member 31 is provided with a fiat cam plate 138 having a beveled Y corner projecting from the slide member 31 .to engage the bell crank lever 140 which is pivotally mounted on the bed plate 21. This bell crank lever 144) is biased in the clockwise direction by a tension coil spring 142. However, when the bell crank lever 140 is engaged by the beveled corner of the cam plate 13S, it is turned in the counterclockwise direction against the pull of the spring 142 so that its projection 144 will engage the armature 132 of the relay 130 to disengage the pawl 134 from the path of rotation o f the fingers of the stopping disc 67.

The armature 132 also carries a leaf spring 146 provided at its end with a pair of contacts adapted tomake Contact with either of the stationary contacts 148 or 150. When the armature 132 is moved downwardly by the bell crank lever 140, the contacts upon the leaf spring 146 will engage the contact 150 and energize the relay 130 to hold the pawl 134 out of the path of the fingers of the stopping disc 67 toV allow the flywheel 63 and the stopping disc and the transmitting gear train as well as the cam 126 and the drum 128 to rotate freely. During this free rotation, the cam126 will cause the tuning means to traverse the radio frequency band in only one direction until a station signal is received. When this stationsignal is received, the relay 130 will be dcenergized thereby immediately releasing its armature 132 and causing the pawl v134 to immediately engage the fingers of the stop disc or wheel 6 7 to stop the tuning mechanism at the inslant the station is tuned in. The flywheel 63, however, is notstopped immediately but continues to rotate upon its own inertia. The Slip Coupling provided between v'the lingers of the stop disc 67 and the surface 73 of the flywheel 63 permits the continued rotation of the flywheel and limits the sudden stopping to the stop wheel and the tuning transmission train of gearing and cam arrangement. The flywheel 63, however, finally stops because of the frictional connection between it and the stop disc 67 through the light springy Contact between the fingers of the stop disc and the rounded annular surface 73 upon the flywheel 63.

The device operates as follows: the push button 33 is pushed inwardly thereby :causing the fiat leaf spring 55 t0 push inwardly on the downwardly turned projection 53 upon the short end o f thearm 45 to turn the arm 45 in a clockwise direction. t This arm 45 will be turned in a clockwise direction until the leaf spring 55 engages the upwardly inclined tongue 59 which cams the flat leaf spring 55 down out of engagement with the downwardly turned projection 53 when the arm 45 is approximately in the dot-and-dash line position shown in Fig. 3. As this arm 45 is turned in a clockwise direction, the pawl 77 will be turned in a counterclockwise direction by the pull of the spring 85 until the projection 81 moves into engagement with the ratchet teeth 65 provided upon the rim of the flywheel 63.

When the slide member 31 is pushed in a major portion of itscomplete travel, the beveled corner of the cam plate 138 engages the bell crank 149 to cause its projection 144 tomove the armature 132 of the relay 130 to its lower position thereby releasing the pawl 134 from engagement with one of the fingers of the stopping wheel or disc 67 and, at the same time, moving the contact upon the leaf spring 146 into engagement with the stationary contact 150. The engagement of these contacts closes an energizing circuit for the relay '130 causing the pawl 134 to remain out of the path of rotation of the fingers of the stopping disc 67. The engagement of the shoulder 61 upon the slide member 31 with the projection 51 limits the inward movement or stroke of the slide member 31 and the clockwise rotation or stroke of the arm 45.

In Sequence therefor as the slide assembly moves in it rotates the arm 45 to cock the triggering spring 47, the pawl 81 comes into engagement with the ratchet teeth 65 and ratchets thereover yon continued inward movement and the locking pawl 1341is moved out of the path of the stopping wheel. The mechanism is now in condition to trip or trigger which action is provided by the end of arm 55 being pulled downwardly at the 'final inward travel which releases the projection S3 from the arm 55 and the spring drives the flywheel through the pawl connection. The arm 45 will new be turned in the counter-clockwise direction under the pull of the spring 47 with the projection 81 of the pawl 77 in engagement with the ratchet teeth 65 of the flywheel 63. The engagement of the projection 3l of the pawl 77 with the ratchet teeth 65 continues substantially throughout the full stroke of the arm 45. However, when the arm d5 approaches its limit of movement or stroke in the counterclockwise direction when the projection 49 comes into engagement with the stationary projection 5l, the spring S5 will turn the pawl 77 in the clockwise direction sufficiently to pull the projection 81 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 65 so that the flywheel 63 is free to turn after it has been given the initial rotative impulse under the power of the spring 47.

The flywheel 63 absorbs the energy imparted to it by the spring 47. The inertia of the flywheel 63 slows down the pull of the spring 47 by converting the energy into the rotational inertia of the ywheel 63. This is done without any theoretical loss of energy. Through this, the ywheel rotates at the substantially desired speed. Through the gear train, which includes the gears 69, 91, 93, and 99, the cam 126 is rotated at substantially the desired speed to cause the traversing of the tuning mechanism of the radio throughout its radio frequency band. The same amount of energy will be imparted by the spring to the ywheel each time regardless of the rapidity with which the push button is actuated. When a station signal is received, there is provided a radio controlled electrical circuit which is operated to cie-energize the relay 130. `Such a circuit is disclosed in Patent 2,494,017 issued January l0, 1950 to Andrew G. Tynan. The armature 132 is instantaneously released to immediately cause the pawl 134 to engage the nearest nger of the stopping wheel or disc 67 under the force of the spring 136 to cause the tuning mechanism of the radio to be stopped in a position to receive the station signal.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A mechanism including a ratchet wheel provided with ratchet teeth, a stop wheel, means including a slip coupling connecting the ratchet wheel and the stop wheel, a transmitting mechanism connected to the stop wheel, a pivoted ratcheting device for said ratchet wheel including a pivoted arm, a pawl mounted upon said pivoted arm, means for oscillating said arm through a stroke, means for engaging said pawl with said ratchet teeth when said arm moves in one direction and for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet teeth prior to the end of such a stroke, and a stopping device (zo-operating with the stop wheel to stop its rotation.

2. A mechanism including a ratchet wheel provided with ratchet teeth, a stop wheel, means including a slip coupling connecting the ratchet wheel and the stop wheel, a transmitting mechanism connected to the stop wheel, a pivoted ratcheting device tor said ratchet wheel including a pivoted arm, a pawl mounted upon said pivoted arm, spring means connected to said arm for oscillating said arm through a strolte, means for engaging said pawl with said ratchet teeth when said arm moves under the force of said spring means and for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet teeth prior to the end of such a stroke, means for oscillating said arm in the opposite direction for tensioning said spring means, and a stopping device cooperating with the stop wheel to stop its rotation.

3. A mechanism including a ratchet wheel provided with ratchet teeth, a stop wheel, means including a slip coupling connecting the ratchet wheel and the stop wheel, a transmitting mechanism connected to the stop wheel, a pivoted ratcheting device for said ratchet wheel including a pivoted arm, a pawl mounted upon said pivoted arm, means for oscillating said arm through a stroke, spring means having one end connected to said pawl, a stationary anchorage for the other end of said spring means, said spring means extending at such an angle to hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth during the first portion of a stroke and removing the pawl from engagement with the ratchet teeth during the last portion of such a stroke, and a stopping device co-op erating with said stop wheel to stop its rotation.

4. A mechanism including a ratchet wheel provided with ratchet teeth, a stop wheel, means including a slip coupling connecting the ratchet wheel and the stop wheel. a transmitting mechanism connected to the stop wheel, a pivoted ratcheting device for said ratchet; wheel including a pivoted arm, a pawl mounted upon said pivoted arm, means for oscillating said arm through a stroke, spring means having one end connected to said pawl, a stationary anchorage for the other end of said spring means, said spring means extending at such an angle to hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth during the first portion of a stroke and removing the pawl from engagement with the ratchet teeth during the last portion of such a stroke, and a stopping device co-operating with said stop wheel to stop its rotation, and means responsive to the operation of said oscillating means for releasing said stopping device.

5. A mechanism including a ratchet wheel, a pivoted arm pivoted substantially on the axis of the ratchet wheel, a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm upon a pivoting axis substantially parallel to the axis of the ratchet wheel, a normally stationary spring anchorage, .a tension type coil spring having one end connected to said pawl and the other end connected to said normally stationary spring anchorage, means for moving said pivoted arm through a stroke beginning on one side of the position in which the coil spring is in line with the pivot of said arm to cause the pawl to engage the ratchet wheel and ending on the opposite side of said position in which the spring is in line with said pivot to disengage the pawl from the ratchet wheel.

6. A mechanism including a ratchet wheel provided with ratchet teeth, a stop Wheel, means including a slip coupling connecting the ratchet wheel and the stop wheel, a transmitting mechanism connected to the stop Wheel, a stopping device co-operating with the stop wheel to stop the rotation thereof, spring biased pawl means engageable with the ratchet wheel and longitudinally movable means to engage and bias the spring biased `means and disable the stopping means on its longitudinal movement.

7. A mechanism including a ratchet wheel provided with ratchet teeth, a stop wheel, means including slip coupling connecting the ratchet wheel and the stop wheel, a transmitting mechanism connected to the stop wheel, a stopping device cooperating with the stop wheel toA stop the rotation hereof, spring biased pawl means engageable with the ratchet wheel, longitudinally movable means to move and bias the spring biased means` and disable the stopping means on its longitudinal movement, and means at the limit of travel of the longitudinally movable means to cause it to move from its path and the spring biased means to convey its energy to the ratchet wheel.

8. A mechanism including a kinetic energy storage means, an indexing stopping member, means including a slip coupling connecting the energy storage means and the indexing stopping member, a transmitting mechanism connected to the indexing stopping member, a ratcheting device engaging said energy storage means including a movable member and a pawl mounted thereon, resilient means connected to said movable member to drive it over its path of travel, means for causing disengagement of said pawl with said energy storage means at the completion of movement of ethemovable member Vin one direction and means for moving said movable vmember in the opposite ,direction to load the resilient means.

9. A mechanism including a ratchet wheel, a pivoted arm lpivoted substantially on the axis of the ratchet wheel, a paw] pivotally `mounted on said arm upon a pivoting ,axis substantially parallel to the axis of the ratchet wheel, means for moving said pivoted arm through a stroke, said pawl being provided with a spring connection, anor mally stationary spring anchorage located adjacent a straight line extending from the axis of the ratchet wheel outwardly through the pivoting axis of the pawl when said arm is intermediate the ends of its stroke, a spring means providing a resilient connection between said spring anchorage and said spring connection, the tooth engaging portion of said pawl being so oriented relative to its spring connection to be in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel at the beginning of said stroke and disengaged from the teeth ot the ratchet wheel at the end of said stroke.

l0. A mechanism including a ratchet wheel, ka pivoted arm pivoted substantially on the axis of the ratchet Wheel, a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm upon a pivoting axis substantially parallel to the axis yof the ratchet wheel, means for moving said pivoted arms through a stroke, said pawl being provided with a spring connection, a normally stationary spring anchorage located adjacent a straight line extending from the axis of .the ratchet wheel outwardly through the pivoting axis `of the pawl when said arm is intermediate the ends of its stroke, a spring means providing a resilient connection between said spring anchorage and said spring connection, .the tooth engaging portion of said pawl being located relative to the pivoting axis of said pawl at yan angle between 90 and 135 from said spring connection.

11. A mechanism including'an inertia device, a stop wheel, means including a slip coupling connecting .the inertia device and the stop wheel, a stopping device cooperating with the stop wheel to stop the rotation of the ystop wheel, spring means for operating the inertia device, means for storing energy in said spring means and then releasing said spring means, and means responsive -to the operation of said storing means for releasing said stopping device to allow the stop wheel 4to operate with the inertia device.

12. A mechanism including an inertia device, a stop wheel, means including a slip coupling connecting the inertia device and the stop wheel, a stopping device co operating with the stop wheel to stop the rotation of the stop wheel, spring means for operating the inertia device, manual operating means for tensioning said spring kmeans to store energy therein and then releasing said spring means, and means responsive to a predetermined -movement of said manual operating means for releasing said stopping device to allow the stop wheel to operate with the inertia device.

13. A mechanism including an irregularly operating .torque creating driving means, a light weight stop wheel,

,a slip coupling connecting the vtorque creating driving means and the stop wheel having means permittingoperattion of the driving means independent of the stop wheel, aiflywheel havnga heavy rim providing a large rotational inertia, aone way drive connection connecting .the torque ,creating driving means and the lywheel for causing the flywheel :to 4:rotate in direct proportion to the operation .of said .driving means Aand to assist in the continuation of .the operation initiated by the driving means, ,an independently operable positive stopping device having means for substantially ,instantaneously arresting the r0- tation of said stop wheel while the slip coupling permits ,continued operation of both the driving means and the flywheel, and `means for releasing said stopping device tto allow ,the driving means to rotate the stop wheel. 14. A .mechanism including a pawl and ratchet driving means, an immediate releasable stop mechanism comprising `a movable member and a releasable positive Amechanical interfering detent for stopping the movable member for a substantial period, said movable member Yhaving interlocking ,means for mechanical locking to ,Saiddeten a-Slip coupling connecting the movable Imember and said driving 4means to permit the driving means 4to operate when the movable member is stopped, .and -electrically operable means for holding said detent in vre- .leaseclposition to permit the driving means acting through ,the "slip coupling to operate said movable member.

15. A mechanism including an irregularly operating movement creating driving means, an intermediate re- `leasable stop mechanism comprising a movable member and Va releasable positive mechanical interfering detent, said ,movable member having interlocking means for mechanical locking to said detent, a flywheel Ihaving a heavyrrim providing a large rotational inertia, a .One way ydrive connection connecting said driving means and said ywheel for causing the ilywheel to rotate in direct `proportion to the operation of said driving means and ,to assist in the continuation of the operation initiated iby the driving means, a slipl coupling connecting the movable member and said driving means to permit the lrlriw ing means and the flywheel to Voperate when the movable member is stopped, and coordinating between said detent and said driving means for releasing said detent and starting the driving means to operate said movable memtber.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 467,396 Burgis et al. Jan. 19, 1892 834,151 Monahan Oct. 23, 1906 1,978,066 Vanderbosch Oct. 23, 1934 2,320,628 Mahnken June l, 1943 2,320,808 Van Lammeren et al June 1, 1943 2,394,312 Krell Feb. 5, 1946 2,449,079 May Sept. 14, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS I686,920 Germany Jan. 18, 1940 

